Holder for an oxygen supply pipe

ABSTRACT

A holder for an oxygen supply pipe for a vacuum furnace having a lid including a sleeve, said sleeve being disposed around said pipe. A pressurizable sealing means is disposed in the sleeve and, when pressurized, forms a releasable vacuum seal between the interior of the sleeve and the exterior of the pipe. Operating means are provided for pressurizing the sealing means.

Wernicke [451 June'l3, 1972 HOLDER FOR AN OXYGEN SUPPLY PIPE Inventor: Hans-Joachim Wernicke, Neuenhain, Taunus, Germany Assignee: Messer Griesheim GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Filed: Dec. 17, 1970 Appl.No.: 99,004

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 22, 1969 Germany ..P 19 62 653.0

us. Cl. .266/34 LM, 266/34T rm. 0.... ..c21 7/00 Field of Search ..7s/49; 266/34 T, 34 L, 34 LM, 266/34 v, 41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,216,713 11/1965 lmaida et a1. ..266/34 LM Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Att0rneyEmest F. Marmorek [57] ABSTRACT A holder for an oxygen supply pipe for a vacuum furnace having a 1id including a sleeve, said sleeve being disposed around said pipe. A pressurizable sealing means is disposed in the sleeve and, when pressurized, forms a releasable vacuum seal between the interior of the sleeve and the exterior of the pipe. Operating means are provided for pressurizing the sealing means.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDJun 13 m2 3, 6 69 437 Fig.1

IN VEN TOR.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The invention relates broadly to a holder for oxygen inlet or supply pipes, especially those used for the refining of steel in vacuum furnaces. In these steel refining processes which are carried out in a vacuum, the oxygen, which is needed for the refining process is blown from above, via an inlet-pipe, over the surface of the molten metal bath. It has in the past been difficult to provide a tight seal around the inlet pipe which is placed in the cover or jacket of the furnace, especially in those cases where the distance from the bath level to the inlet pipe need be changed or when the inlet pipe has to be rapidly removed therefrom by manual or automatic means. Moreover, the distance between the bath level and the inlet pipe opening cannot be kept constant, since the bath level can fluctuate by approximately 400 mm from charge to charge, as for example, in the case of a t vacuum induction oven, problems of a tight seal are encountered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a holder for an oxygen inlet pipe, such as where said inlet pipe is sealed off from the furnace cover and can be moved within the latter, so that the distance between the bath level and the inlet pipe opening can be adjusted at will, and preferably be maintained at a constant level.

It is a further object of the present invention to design the holder in such a manner so that the oxygen inlet pipe may be moved without, however, necessitating breaking of the vacuum, which may be present above the bath level.

It is still a further object of the instant invention to obviate the drawbacks of the prior art.

It is yet a further object of the instant invention to provide for an apparatus which is simple and positive in operation and requires very little maintenance.

It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide for an apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to make and use.

Other objects of theinvention will in part-be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

Broadly speaking, the instant invention is directed to a holder for oxygen inlet pipes, especially those used with vacuum furnaces in the refining of steels. The holder has a sleeve which is arranged around an oxygen inlet pipe and further has annular chambers. The sleeve has disposed therein a pressurizable sealing means composed of an elastic material thereby forming an elastic sealing surface and isadditionally provided with a connection element operable to accommodate the introduction of a pressure fluid such as one which operates by pressure means.

During an increase of pressure which may be created by the pressure operated means, the elastic sealing surface of the sleeve, which is in the form of an annular chamber, will come to lie against the oxygen inlet pipe so as to firmly engage same and thereby form a gas-tight seal. Where it is found necessary to move the inlet pipe, the pressure may be reduced to the point at which at least a portion of the inlet pipe can be moved with relative ease. Should the occasion arise, the inlet pipe can be removed or replaced in this manner in a matter of a few seconds.

Any of a variety of synthetic rubbers are well suited as the elastic material. The sleeve can also be provided with a second connection member operable to draw off the pressure fluid. The pressure fluid, for example water, can by virtue of the foregoing be simultaneously circulated as a coolant through the sleeve.

Bellows, which may consist of metal or of rubber, can be installed in a gas'tight manner between the oxygen inlet pipe and the furnace cover. Under these circumstances, the inlet pipe can be moved up and down without interfering with the vacuum above the bath level or without breaking the vacuum.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof, certain embodiments of the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of an inlet pipe holder showing the sleeve with the sealing means composed in part of an elastic material thereby forming the sealing surface; and

FIG. 2 shows a portion of the inlet pipe holder, partly in section where the sleeve is composed entirely of an inflatable annular elastic tube.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS: I

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the level 1 of a liquid steel bath or melt, the height of which fluctuates. Above said level 1 there is disposed a furnace cover or lid 2 which is operable to seal the area above the bath level l'from the surroundings'in a vacuumtight manner. The furnace cover 2 terminates in a short hood segment 3 to which a ceramic lining 4 is attached. In the area above the bath level 1 the ceramic lining 4 displays an opening in its center through which an oxygen inlet or supply pipe 5 projects. The oxygen inlet pipe 5 may be pressure cooled, such as by water; the inlet and outlet members or conduit means for the water are designated respectively by 6 and 7. An oxygen inlet member 8 accomodates the introduction of oxygen into the oxygen inlet pipe 5. A rubber washer 9 is mounted at the upper extremity of the short hood segment 3 against which a holder or sleeve 10 for the oxygen inlet pipe 5 may come to rest. The ceramic lining 4 protects said sleeve 10 against heat radiation emanating from the furnace (not shown). The sleeve l0 upwardly terminates by forming a lead-in member 11 thereby allowing for the introduction of the inlet pipe 5.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pressurizable sealing means 12 in said sleeve 10 which is in the form of an annular or ring chamber and is operable to seal and firmly engage the inlet pipe 5 in a gas-tight manner, thereby preserving the vacuum. The pressurizable sealing means 12, when pressurized form a releasable vacuum seal between the interior of said sleeve and the exterior of a portion of the oxygen inlet pipe 5. Along its sealing surfaces, said sealing means 12 have an elastic portion 13 that is made for instance of synthetic rubber and which at each of its ends is connected to a respective steel flange 14. The flanges 14 are welded to the sleeve 10 and together with the elastic tubular inner portion 13 form the complete sealing means 12.

Water, which may be used as the pressure fluid and can be introduced into the sleeve 10 through an entry or inlet tube 15 and thereafter removed by an exit tube 16. Since the water circulates through the chamber of the sealing means 12, the sealing surface is also cooled. The oxygen inlet pipe 5 is surrounded along the sealing surface by a non-scaling tubular casing 17. Upwards of the sleeve 10 there is provided a retaining ring 18 operable to prevent the oxygen inlet pipe 5 from falling into the molten steel bath.

Lowering the pressure in the chamber of the sealing means 12 causes a reduction in the pressure along the sealing surface which accordingly allows the oxygen inlet pipe 5 to be readily moved upward and downward. Where necessary, the oxygen inlet pipe 5 can be exchanged or removed within a matter of gas-tight manner to the oxygen inlet pipe 5 while the other end thereof is connected in a corresponding manner to the sleeve 10. Thus, when the pressure in the sleeve is released, and it is necessary to move the oxygen inlet pipe 5 upward or downward, the bellows 21 is able to seal the vacuum above the bath level 1 from the surrounding atmosphere. The bellows 21 may also be affixed in a different manner, for example in the interior of the sleeve 10.

In a modification as shown in FIG. 2 the sleeve 10 has disposed therein a sealing means 12 composed of an elastic inflatable annular tube 19 that is provided with a single conduit 20 operable to supply the pressure fluid to said sealing means 12 and to discharge it therefrom. The foregoing construction provides two sealing surfaces: namely, one at the external surface of the non-scaling tubular casing 17 and the other at the internal surface of thesleeve 10. The sealing means 12 can be connected to the sleeve 10 in many ways while still ensuring that it will not fall into the molten steel bath; for example, the sealing means 13 can be cemented or glued to the sleeve 10, or be provided with knob-like members which are operable to engage corresponding recesses in the sleeve 10.

The seal provided by the present invention is best suited for the automatic adjustment of an inlet-pipe 5 with respect to the height of the bath level 1 below. For example, the height of the bath level 1 could be measured by an optical means and with the aid of the measured values the pressure automatically reduced in the sleeve 10 such that the inlet pipe 5 can be moved and the pressure in the ring-chamber of the sealing means 12 increased again.

The sleeve 10 designed in accordance with the present invention is not restricted to vacuum furnaces,.but can be used in each case in which a movable supply pipe arrangement is desired.

1 wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a holder for an oxygen supply pipe for use in connection with a vacuum furnace for a melt, having a lid;

the improvement comprising:

a sleeve supported adjacent said lid,

an oxygen supply pipe including a movable upright portion having a discharge exit disposed near the level of said melt and operable for oxygenating the melt,

said sleeve being disposed around said pipe;

a pressurizable sealing means disposed in said sleeve and when pressurized forming a releasable vacuum seal between the interior of said sleeve and the exterior of said pipe portion, and

operating means operative for pressurizing said sealing means.

2. In a holder, as claimed in claim 1, said operating means comprising conduit means operable to supply a pressure fluid into said sealing means.

3. In a holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing means is composed of an elastic inflatable annular tube in contact, when inflated, with the external surface of said pipe and the internal surface of said sleeve.

4. In a holder, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sealing means includes synthetic rubber.

5. In a holder, as claimed in claim 2, said conduit means including inlet and outlet means for said sealing means connected to said sleeve.

6. In a holder, as claimed in claim 1, and a bellow disposed around the outer periphery of said pipe, said bellows being connected near one end to said pipe and near the other end to said sleeve. 

1. In a holder for an oxygen supply pipe for use in connection with a vacuum furnace for a melt, having a lid; the improvement comprising: a sleeve supported adjacent said lid, an oxygen supply pipe including a movable upright portion having a discharge exit disposed near the level of said melt and operable for oxygenating the melt, said sleeve being disposed around said pipe; a pressurizable sealing means disposed in said sleeve and when pressurized forming a releasable vacuum seal between the interior of said sleeve and the exterior of said pipe portion, and operating means operative for pressurizing said sealing means.
 2. In a holder, as claimed in claim 1, said operating means comprising conduit means operable to supply a pressure fluid into said sealing means.
 3. In a holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing means is composed of an elastic inflatable annular tube in contact, when inflated, with the external surface of said pipe and the internal surface of said sleeve.
 4. In a holder, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sealing means includes synthetic rubber.
 5. In a holder, as claimed in claim 2, said conduit means including inlet and outlet means for said sealing means connected to said sleeve.
 6. In a holder, as claimed in claim 1, and a bellow disposed around the outer periphery of said pipe, said bellows being connected near one end to said pipe and near the other end to said sleeve. 